Geranium plant named ‘Amri Cherose Two’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Geranium  plant named ‘Amri Cherose Two’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit with many large flower umbels per plant; and flower umbels with numerous red purple-colored single flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Amri Cherose Two.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, commercially known as a Zonal Geranium, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Amri Cherose Two’.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gilroy, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new Zonal Geranium cultivars with good basal branching, freely flowering habit and attractive flower and foliage coloration.

The new Geranium originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in February, 1997 of a proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection identified as code number 5746-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection identified as code number 5252-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Amri Cherose Two was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny from this cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. in September, 1997.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Gilroy, Calif., since September, 1997 has shown that the unique features of this new Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Amri Cherose Two’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Amri Cherose Two’ as a new and distinct Geranium cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded growth habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit with many flower umbels per plant.     -   5. Large flower umbels with numerous red purple-colored single         flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium had single flowers whereas plants         of the female parent selection had semi-double flowers.     -   2. Plants of the new Geranium and the female parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection had bluish rose-colored flowers.

In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium had darker-green colored leaves         than plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Geranium and the male parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         had bluish rose-colored flowers.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, Americana Cherry Rose, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,937. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differed from plants of the cultivar Americana Cherry Rose in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Geranium were more vigorous than plants of         the cultivar Americana Cherry Rose.     -   2. Plants of the new Geranium were more freely branching than         plants of the cultivar Americana Cherry Rose.     -   3. Plants of the new Geranium had slightly larger leaves than         plants of the cultivar Americana Cherry Rose.     -   4. Leaf color of plants of the new Geranium was lighter green         than leaf color of plants of the cultivar Americana Cherry Rose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Amri Cherose Two’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Amri Cherose Two’.

Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Geranium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar Amri Cherose Two have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Gilroy, Calif., under commercial practice in a fiberglass-covered greenhouse during the late spring with day temperatures about 27 to 29° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C. and light levels about 2,000 foot-candles. Plants used for the photographs and description were about eight to twelve weeks from planting rooted cuttings. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Amri Cherose     Two. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection             identified as code number 5746-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection             identified as code number 5252-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 12 to 14 days at 24° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at 18 to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Upright, outwardly spreading and mounded             growth habit.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and very freely basal             branching with about 17 lateral branches. Pinching, that is,             removal of terminal apices, is typically not required.         -   Plant height to top of foliage.—About 25 cm.         -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 37 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 48 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 23 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Internode length: About 2.3 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             144B.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 7 cm. Width: About 10.7 cm. Shape: Reniform. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Cordate. Margin: Crenate, lobing rounded.             Venation: Palmate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Velvety; pubescent. Color: Developing and fully expanded             foliage, upper surface: 147A; no distinct zonation pattern.             Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface; 147B.             Venation, upper surface: 144B. Venation, lower surface:             147D. Petiole: Length: About 7.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and type.—Single rounded flowers arranged             in hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.             Umbels displayed above the foliage. At full flowering,             usually about 28 open and developing umbels per plant.             Flowers not persistent; umbels persistent. Flowers not             fragrant.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In             the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.             Plants start flowering about eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about one week on the plant.         -   Umbels.—Height: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 10 cm. Number of             flowers and flower buds per umbel: About 40. Flower             diameter: About 4.5 to 5 cm. Flower depth (height): About             2.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: 58B.         -   Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: About five petals per flower             in a single whorl; occasionally flowers with six petals;             imbricate. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Rounded, obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Aspect:             Slightly cupped. Color: When opening, upper surface: 57A.             When opening, lower surface: 58B. Fully opened, upper             surface, upper two petals: 57A; towards base, 52A; at base,             155D, venation, 46A to 46B. Fully opened, upper surface,             lower three petals: Towards apex, 57A; towards base, 57B; at             base, 155D; venation, close to 57A. Fully opened, lower             surface: 57C; at base, 62B; venation, 57A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower in a single             whorl; not imbricate on open flowers. Length: About 1 cm.             Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to elliptical. Apex:             Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             144A.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 16 to 18 cm. Diameter:             About 3 mm. Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3.2 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle: Erect to about 50° from             vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 183A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther quantity: About ten             per flower. Anther size: About 1 by 2 mm. Anther shape:             Oval. Anther color: 50B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen             color: 171B. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One per flower.             Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Five-parted,             star-shaped. Stigma color: 60A. Style length: About 3 mm.             Style color: 60A. Ovary color: 138C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to     Pelargonium has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Amri Cherose Two’, as herein illustrated and described. 